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Lawyers Council For Civil and Economic Rights

The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice’s Lawyers Council for Civil and Economic Rights in the Americas convenes private-practice attorneys across the Americas to support the critical work of civil society, to combat the epidemic of devastating corruption throughout the region, and support the rule of law. The Council consists of eighteen lawyers from the United States and thirteen Latin American countries with experience as leaders of bar associations, board members of non-governmental organizations, and/or as pro bono practitioners, who design and implement multilateral, region-wide initiatives to address challenges to civil and economic rights in Latin America.  This initiative’s launch has been generously funded by the Ford Foundation and the Tinker Foundation.

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AREAS OF FOCUS

Corruption and the Law
The Council’s anti-corruption efforts focus on strengthening the effective enforcement of laws to protect the integrity and transparency of democratic government. Recent investigations throughout Latin America have uncovered complex financial arrangements that robbed public funds from much needed infrastructure and social service programs. Corruption erodes public confidence and undermines democracy at its core. Private sector lawyers are uniquely situated to collaborate with governments and civil society organizations to fight systemic abuse, with expertise in both the regulatory and commercial spheres. The Council endeavors to think innovatively about this seemingly intractable crisis.

Supporting Civil Society
Throughout the Americas, civil society organizations face government suppression in carious forms. The Council seeks to identify legal impediments to forming and operating civil society organizations independently, and free from government overreaching. These efforts are designed to rally the legal profession nationally and regionally to strengthen the rights and resources that will allow civil society to work effectivelt for the common good.

AREAS OF FOCUS

...

Close

AREAS OF FOCUS

Corruption and the Law
The Council’s anti-corruption efforts focus on strengthening the effective enforcement of laws to protect the integrity and transparency of democratic government. Recent investigations throughout Latin America have uncovered complex financial arrangements that robbed public funds from much needed infrastructure and social service programs. Corruption erodes public confidence and undermines democracy at its core. Private sector lawyers are uniquely situated to collaborate with governments and civil society organizations to fight systemic abuse, with expertise in both the regulatory and commercial spheres. The Council endeavors to think innovatively about this seemingly intractable crisis.

Supporting Civil Society
Throughout the Americas, civil society organizations face government suppression in carious forms. The Council seeks to identify legal impediments to forming and operating civil society organizations independently, and free from government overreaching. These efforts are designed to rally the legal profession nationally and regionally to strengthen the rights and resources that will allow civil society to work effectivelt for the common good.

Council Members

Alberto Rebaza | Peru